Apparatus for regulating and controlling the speed of motor-vehicles.



4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented July 13, 1909.

. F. LOOS. APPARATUS FOR BEGULATING AND CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF MOTOR VEHICLES.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 6,-1907.

v P. L0OS.' APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1907. 927,865. Patented July 13, 1909.

=5 :4 4SHEETS-BHEBT 2.

L Fig. 4.

Fig. 6.

W? I W Q 6 fig v Allw'ngy.

F. LOOS. APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND CONTROLLING THE SPEED 0F MOTOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FI LED MAY 6. 1907.

927,865. Patented July 13, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Fig.7

1 7 as B Q 3 2 3 7 Z4 5 I Q z 1 r B 1,2,2 v 6L ,2? A r- 3 2 10 III 26 5 e 1 V vs 7 D 14 WZ' Z22 esses I. LOOS. APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1907.

Patented Ju1y13, 1909.

4BHEETS-SHEET 4.

Jm/en y M I Afiorne y.

Mfnesses W 4 tion is to provide controlling means whereby the sparking devices may be cut into or out UNITED STAWATENT OFFICE.

FRANZ LOOS, OF MEIERHOFEN, NEAR CARLSB'AD, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO AUGUST GOTTL, OF FISCHERN, NEAR CARLSBAD. AUSTRIAJIUNGARY.

APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1909.

Application filed May 6, 1907. Serial No. 372,193.

To all whom it may cancer rt:

ratus for Regulating and Controlling the $peed of Motor-Vehicles, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in meansfor controlling and limiting the speed of automobiles and the object of the invenofoperative relation, automatically by the steering mechanism, or at the-will of the Open ator and without directly altering the adjustment of the. sparking device.

A further object of the invention consists in the provision of an indicator adapted for operation by the driver of the'automobile and serving when in its various positions to indicate to the public whether or not the speed of the automobile is within the prescribed limits of the territory through which it is passing. a

The inventionhas other features which will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be more particularly pointed out and ascertained in and by the appended claims.

In. the drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the controlling mechanismv as the partsappear when the vehicle is in a position of rest.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the indicator device showing the same in full lines in a non-operating or cut-out position and in,

dotted lines in an o erative or cut-in osition. Fig. 3 is. a si e elevation of the indicater. Fig. 4 is a view similar. to Fig. 1 showing the parts in the position whieh'they would 'assume'when the vehicle is going at a high speed. Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Figs. 2 and 3 with the indicator shown in full lines in a cut-in lines in a cut-out position. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts in the position they assume when the vehicle is running. at a high speed ,and when it has been cut out by the steering mechanism, in roundmg-a curve in one direction. Flg. 8 1s a vlew similar to Fig. 7 showin the manner 'of cut ting out when the vehio e is rounding in another direction. Fig. 9 is a view of the steering mechanism showing the manner in osition and in dotted.

which the device of my invention is connected therewith. Fig/.10 is a diagrammatic view ofthe circuits employed and the manner in which the same are connected. Fig. 11 is a detail of a portion of the controller mechanism.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the diil erent figures of the drawings.

Referring briefly to Big. 10 the main circuit is shown as consisting of the wire 1 lead ingfrom D through a main switch U to one pole of a battery or other source of current Z.

From the other pole of the battery Z a wire Y 1s connected with an induction coil 3 -Wl11C-l1 latter is connected in the usual manner with the commutator H of the magnetthe wire C by branch 6. I In some adjust-- ments of the device current will [low from a to C and through branch (ito wire 0. When it is desired to use the'magneto and cut out the battery a switch Z is provided and will be thrown into engagement with contact 71* to cut out the battery. In starting the ma chine where it is desired to use the battery andnot the magneto or when the magneto is disabled the switch Z will be thrown into the o'sition shown in fulllines in fig. 10 to cut in the battery.

I will next, describe the controiiii'ig mechanism with reference to Figs. 1 to Sinclusive and 11. A driven shaft A extends through and has bearings inthe end walls of a casing B and is provided on its projecting ends with a sprocket wheel 11 to which power may be applied from any-suitable source. 'lghe shaft A is provided with a governor 3 having balls 3 1 which" latter are connected with a non- -rot atably and slidably mounted sleeve 2. As the balls 1 contract and expand the sleeve '2 is shifted in accordance with the movement of the balls 1 as will be clearly obvious by ref:

erenee to the 'hereinbefore mentioned figures. Shifting movement of the sleeve 2 to the right is effected by the balls 1 against the action of-the s ring a, interposed between the sleeve 2 and a collar'20 adjustable on the shaft A by means of set screws shown. A

lever 4 is pivotally mounted at a, which is oiieof the connecting points of the main circuit by means of wire Z, and said lever 4 is operatively connected with the sleeve 2'so as to be actuated thereby in its shifting movement and as shown said connection consists of a pin 22 on the sleeve 2 projectin through the slot 24 of the lever 4. The sfeeve 2is provided with an insulated portion 2 to prevent short cireuiting through sleeve 2 and shaft A. Ashiftable contact carrier is provided and 'as shown the same consists of a rod 7 slidably mounted in bearings D and D. A spring 14, connected with said carrier and with the casing B, normally maintains said carrier at and returns ,it to the normal position shown in Fig. '1. Said carrier 7 is provided with a high speed contact III which is insulated at I from a low speed contact IV and is insulated at II from a neutral or nonacting portion V. Asliding contact member 9', preferably in the form of a s ring, closing; circuit through saidv high spee contact III- and said' low speed contact IV with the auxiliary and main circuits res ectively and said sliding contact 9 is prefera ly mounted u on a sleeve 8 of; insulating material which is s id-v ably disposed upon the carrier 7-. The lever '41 is connected with the sleeve 8 by a slot and pin connection 25 and 26 respectively and the lever 4 is also electrically connected by 9 with the sliding contact 9. -The halls of the governor expand as the result of the high speed at which the automobile is driven; the s eeve 2 is shifted to the right and the lever 4 shifts the sliding contact spring 9 from the position shown in Fig. 1,.where the contact 9 is in engagement with the low speed contact IV, to the'position shown in Fig. 4fwhere the contact 9 is' in .enga ement with the high speed contact III, hen the spring 9 closes circuit through contact portion IV current passes from a through arm 4 and spring 9 to contact IV and out through bearing D to wire 0 and from thence to the main circuit as hereinbefore described. vThis adjustment is shown in Fig.1. When spring 9 is in engagement with the high speed contact. 1301'". tion III the current passes through arm 4 to spring 9 and out through contact portion III to wire C and through the auxiliary circuit.

- The indicating device consists of a board 0 which ma be hinged to the front or dash board 0' o the automobile and which is adapted to be swun into upper and lower p0- =sitions as clearly s own in fulland dotted lines' in Fig, 2. cut-out is associatedwvith the board 0 and'ls diagrammatically shown In connection therewith and said cut-out consists of a terminal 12 to which the wire C 1s connected and a SWltOll portion 13- to which the branch 6 is connected at 15.

shown) for indicating the speed or indicating that the automobile is driven at the prescribed or lawful rate of speed so that when the board is in an upper position the face of the board will be visible over the dash-board be readily seen. When the board Ois in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, or in the lowered position, it will be concealed by the dash-board O and willnot be visible and in this )osition the auxiliary circuit is closed.

Ass own in Fig. 11 the end 9 of the sprin 9 is wider than the insulated portion '1 so that it will always overlap the same and.

never be wholly out of cont-act with the low and high speed contacts IV and'III respec- O to inspectors or officers of the law and can tively at the same timeas otherwise the sparking circuit. would be momentarily put out of service in the passage of the ends 9 over the insulated portion 1. The insulated portionII is wider than the end 9 so that normally the sgging 9 will never reach the neutral portion Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Flg; 1 and that the automobile is inv a position of rest and about to be started; it wi 1 be seen that the board '0 is in an upward position so as to cut out the auxiliary c1rcuit;

therefore the sparking circuit will be com-- pleted through an, arm 4, spring 9, contact V, bearings and wire O. If the speed of the automobile is increased beyond the le al rate the balls 1 will expand so as to shift the sleeve2 and .arm {1, and also the sleeve 8 and contact 9, until the'latter passes over insulation I to high speed contact III thereby cutting out the main circuit. The sparking apparatus will thus be arrested ancLthe speed of the automobile will immediately decrease until the balls 1 permit the springs a. to shift the sleeve 2 and bring the spring contact 9 back into engagement with the speed contact IV. Itwil thus be seen that automatic means are provided for preventing the s eed- .ing of an automobile beyond a pre etermined limit and that after-the speed has GX ceeded such limit it will be automatically decreased and the sparking apparatus again: started after the prescribed speed is again reached. If however the driver wishes to run at a speed beyond the rescribed limit when he has reached out ying tern'torv where the speed, limit does not apply the lowing the increased speed without arresting the sparker.

I will next describe the improved manner by means of which the'specd of theautomobile is automatically reduced when the same is rounding a curve, this function being performed by means operated from the steering device. r w

Referring to Fig. 9, g designates a steering post provided with the usual steering wheel and connected withi-na gear box 1 with-a steering link .9. The parts in Fig. 9 are shown in a position to cause the automobile to run in a straight line: When the-automobile is rounding a curve to the rightor left the link 8 will be swung forwardly or rearwardly, inaccordance with the direction, and with respect to the normal position shown in Fig.

9. A steering cut out member 5 is slidably mounted in one wall of the casing and in a bearing G and is connected at 27 with a link 10 which latter is connected with the steering apparatus shown in Fig. 9. The steering member 5 is provided with means associated with the contact carrier 7 whereby the latter is always shifted in one direction irrespective of the direction in which the member 5 is shifted. As shown a lever 6 is pivotally mounted at b and the pivot 6 preferably ex tends through a slot 28 in the member 5. The member 5 is n'ovided with lugs H H, projecting from ateral sides thereof and adapted-to engage the lever 6. It will be -seen by reference to Fig. 1 that when the lever 6is engaged by the lug H and the' member 5 is shifted to the right, the lower end of the lever 6 will be shifted to the left and it will also be obvious that when the member 5 is shifted to the left the lug H will engage the lower end of the lever 65 and shift the same to the left. When the steering gear is in a normal position the member 5 will be in the position shown in' Fig. 1 and the lugs H H will permit the lever 6 to remain ina vertical or normal position. The lever'6 is connected with the carrier 7 by a pin and slot connection 29 and F respectively so that the lever 6 will always shift the carrier 7 to the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8 when the automobile is rounding a curve 'in either direction. In the position shown in these figures it will be seen that the contact 9 engages the insulation Tl thereby automatically cutting out the auxiliary circuit (1 and arresting the sparker. When the steering mechanism is adjusting to drive the vehicle in a straight line, the member 5 will be shifted tothe position shown in Fig. 4 and the contact 9 will be restored to engagement with the high speed contact IH. It will thus be seen that the sparkcr is aliitomatically cut out of operation when the automobile is rounding a curve and that it is also automatically cut out of operation when the indicator 0 is in a cut out position and the vehicle exceeds the prescribed speed limit.

'I claim: 1. A speed regulator for vehicles com rising in combination, a controlling device aving main terminals and an auxiliary terminal, a main' circuit conneotedwith said main terminals and including a sparker, an auxiliary circuit connected ,with saiid main circuit and said auxiliary terminal, an indi- 35 cator cut out in said. auxiliary circuit, and means included in said device for automatically closing circuit to said sparker through said auxiliary or main terminals,

2. A speed regulator for vehicles com r-ising in combination, a controlling device aving main terminals and' an auxiliary terminal, a main circuit connected with said main terminals and including a sparker, an auxiliarycircuit connected with said main circuit and said auxiliary terminal, means included in said device for closing circuit to said sparker through saidauxiliary or one of said main terminals, an indicator. cut out for said auxiliary circuit, and. independently operable means controlled by the steering gear for cutting out the sparker when the vehicle is rounding a curve.

3. A speed regulator for vehicles com ris-. ing in combin ation,.a controlling device aving main terminals and an auxiliary terminal, a main circuit-connected with said main terminals and including a spar-ker device, an auxiliary circuit connected with said main-- circuit and with said auxiliary terminal, a 0 cut out for said auxiliary circuit for opening the same, and meansrincluded in said controlling device for opening said main circuit when the vehicle attains'a predetermined speed. a

4. A speed regulator for'vehieles comprising in combination, a controlling device provided with main terminals and an auxiliary terminal, a main circuit connected with said main terminals and including a sparking device, an auxiliary circuit connected with said main circuit and said auxiliary terminal, an indicator out out for -said auxiliary circuit, means included in said controlling device for operating said sparker through said main or auxiliary circuit, and a device operated by the steering gear and actuating said controlling devipe to cut out the sparker when the vehicle is rounding a curve.

5. A speed regulator for vehicles compr'ising in combination, a continuously driven 'shaft, a governor therefor, an arm controlled by said governorandforming one'terminal fora main circuit, a movable contact carrier provided with high and low s eed contact portions, said carrier forming t e other terminalfor the main circuit and said high speed contact portion forming one terminal for the auxiliary circuit, a contact member i electrically connected with said arm and adapted to close circuit through said high or low speed contact portion, a main circuit connected with said main terminals and including .a'sparker, an auxiliarycircuit connected with said main circuit and said auxiliary terernor therefor, an arm forming one terminal for a main circuit and actuated by said governor, a shlftable contact carrler provided.

. with high and loW speed contact portions,

portions, a main circuit connected with said main terminals-andincluding a sparker, an auxlllary circult connected .w1th.sa1d main circuit and saidhigh speed contactportion,

tomatica'lly cut out the sparker when thevehicle is rounding a curve.

7. A speed regulator for veh cles comprlssaid controllingde'vice, said main circuit 'including a sparking device, means included in. said controlling device for closing either of said circuits, and mechanism operated by the steering gear and acting through said means to automatically cut out the sparking device when the vehicle is rounding a curve.

8; A- speed regulator for vehicles comprising in combination, acontrolling device, a'

main oircuit connected with said controlling V v ,ing 1n,comb1nat1 on,a controlling device, 'a main and an auxiliary circu t connected with device and including a sparker, means included in said controllingdevicefor, opening said main circuit to arrest operation of the sparker, and mechanism controlled by the with said controlling device to arrest operation of the sparker when'the vehicle is round-v ing a curve.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my' signature in presence of-two witnesses.

FRANZ LOOS. WVitnesses L 'DWIG KoHN, SIGMUND 'FREUND.

bearings for said carrier one of Whiclrforms a steering gear for automatically cooperating main contact terminal, said highspeed con- 

